Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 05 January 1883
Open During Prohibited Hours
Sarah Hyde Houldsworth, licensed victualler,Conisboro’ appeared in answer to a summons charging her with allowing her house to be open during prohibited hours on Christmas Day.
Mr. Hall appeared for the defence.
Police constable Guylee stated that on the 25th ult. about 7.15 a.m he was on duty in Conisboro’ in company with Police constable Kendall, when he saw a boy go the Castle Inn with a can in his hand.
Witness went to him and found that the can contained half a gallon of beer. He asked the lad who had supplied him with the liquor, and he replied “The servant.” He took the boy hack to the house, saw the servant, and asked her where Mrs Houldsworth was. She replied that her mistress was in bed. Witness then asked her whether Mrs. Houldsworth knew she had supplied any one with beer that morning, and she repiied “Yes.’ She had been up for the keys and told her mistress that she wanted to draw beer.
Witness then asked if Mrs. Houldsworth had given her orders to supply beer during prohibited hours, and she replied ” No.”
Mrs. Houldsworth came down stairs shortly afterwards, and he asked her how she accounted for her servant’s drawing beer during prohibited hours. She replied to the effect she forgot it was Christmas morning, that she was very sorry, and hoped the matter would be looked ever.
Mr. Hall said that Mrs. Houldsworth was in bed half asleep when the servant went upstairs and said men wanted beer. Mrs. Houldsworth gave her the keys, and, in three or four minutes afterwards, the policemen arrived. He would ask the bench under the circumstances not to convict; but to dismiss the case on payment of costs. She had kept a public-house 18 years in Conisboro’, and had never been summoned before.
The Chairman said he did not think it was a bad case. It was possible that, Christmas Day following close upon a Sunday, the fact had not struck the defendant. She would be fined however. 5s. and costs. After all it was sometimes extremely convenient to have a short memory, and defendant should have given her servant proper instructions.